News & Updates

When tourists or their dogs step into traps, you can kiss new outdoor recreation industry goodbye

Apr 15, 2020 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Dog, Illegal Trapping, NM Department of Game and Fish, NM State Game Commission, Office of Outdoor Recreation, Outdoor Recreation Industry, Public Lands, Public Opinion, Public Safety, Roxy's Law, Tourism Industry, Trapping on Public Lands

By Sherry Robinson New Mexico wants the traveling public to think of the state as a destination for outdoor recreation. For those of us who hike, bike, fish, hunt, and golf, that seems pretty obvious. The tourism industry and economic developers are on board. However,...

New Mexico commission approves wildlife trapping changes

Jan 22, 2020 | Companion Animal, Dog, Mexican wolf, NM Department of Game and Fish, NM State Game Commission, Outdoor Recreation Industry, Public Lands, Roxy's Law, Trapping on Public Lands, Trapping Regulations, Wildlife, Wildlife Management

ALBUQUERQUE — Trappers now have to complete an education course and new restrictions will be imposed on setting wildlife traps and snares around designated trailheads and on select tracts of public lands in New Mexico under a measure adopted Friday by the State Game...

New Mexico Game Commission adds restrictions on trapping in divided vote

Jan 22, 2020 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, NM Department of Game and Fish, NM State Game Commission, Public Lands, Trapping on Public Lands, Trapping Regulations, Waste, Wildlife

LAS CRUCES — The New Mexico State Game Commission voted 5-2 to extend certain restrictions on trapping during its public meeting in Las Cruces Friday. The change mandates that anyone purchasing a trapping license undergo a mandatory trapping education course that...

New Mexico Game Commission approves trapping, disregarding public opposition

Jan 18, 2020 | Bobcat, Fox, Mexican wolf, NM State Game Commission, Public Lands, Public Opinion, Roxy's Law, Trapping on Public Lands, Trapping Regulations, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Management

Wolves, pets remain at risk The New Mexico Game Commission approved trapping of bobcats, foxes, and other wildlife throughout the state on January 17. The decision reauthorizes the use of leghold traps, body-crushing traps, and strangulation snares that have killed...

Massachusetts outlaws destructive wildlife killing contests

Jan 17, 2020 | Wildlife, Wildlife Killing Contests, Wildlife Management

Regulation abolishes competitive killing of wild animals for prizes and entertainment Boston, MA – A coalition of leading wildlife protection organizations is applauding MassWildlife staff and the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board for their vote today to ban...

Trapping is not wildlife management

Jan 16, 2020 | NM Department of Game and Fish, Trapping on Public Lands, Trapping Regulations, Waste, Wildlife, Wildlife Management

Trapping has been touted by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish staff as a “legitimate” and "valuable" wildlife management tool. However, the type and scope of trapping is never specified nor are the reasons stated for its necessity. There are no management plans...

MY VIEW: Trapping will damage tourism

Dec 23, 2019 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Companion Animal, Economic Analysis, Outdoor Recreation Industry, Public Lands, Public Safety, Trap Injuries, Trap Victim Story, Trapping Incidents Map, Trapping on Public Lands, Trapping Regulations, Waste, Wildlife, Wildlife Management

It is hard to believe the state ⏤ always in need of revenue ⏤ is intentionally acting to decrease its most dependable revenue stream: tourism. This is unimaginable; the state is acting to purposely lose residents and tourists by condoning and actively perpetuating...

NM game panel puts black bears at risk

Dec 23, 2019 | Bear, Cruelty, Lethal control, NM Department of Game and Fish, NM State Game Commission, Waste, Wildlife, Wildlife Management

By Jan Hayes, Founder, Sandia Mountain Bear Watch The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has recently released its Final Adopted Bear Rule for the next five years, 2020-24, and the news is not good for New Mexico’s bears or for those of us who had hoped for some...

Don’t Trap, Photograph!

Dec 20, 2019 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Economic Analysis, Letter to the Editor, Outdoor Recreation Industry, Trapping on Public Lands, Wildlife

The potential of non-extractive/non–exploitive wildlife viewing and photography are already huge revenue streams in New Mexico. Shooting wildlife with cameras has far more sustainable financial potential than hunting or the egregious trapping—still legal in New...

Speak out to oppose trapping on public lands

Dec 16, 2019 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Mexican wolf, NM Department of Game and Fish, NM State Game Commission, Public Lands, Public Opinion, Public Safety, Trap Injuries, Trapping Incidents Map, Trapping is Torture, Trapping on Public Lands, Trapping Regulations, Waste, Wildlife, Wildlife Management

New Mexico has a problem with traps on public lands. The ongoing destruction inflicted by hidden, baited, steel jaw traps is well documented. Users of public lands, companion animals and wildlife, including endangered species, continue to suffer the harm inflicted by...

Letter to the Editor: Statewide Traps

Dec 10, 2019 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Letter to the Editor, NM Department of Game and Fish, NM State Game Commission, Public Lands, Public Opinion, Public Safety, Trapping is Torture, Trapping on Public Lands, Waste, Wildlife, Wildlife Management

This letter was published in the Santa Fe New Mexican on December 10, 2019 New Mexico has a problem with traps on public lands. The ongoing destruction inflicted by hidden, baited, steel jaw traps is well-documented. Public lands users, companion animals and wildlife,...

Inconsistency at Game and Fish: After state rejoins wolf recovery program, two pups caught in leghold traps

Dec 10, 2019 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Cruelty, Endangered Species, Illegal Trapping, Legislation, Mexican wolf, NM Department of Game and Fish, NM State Game Commission, Public Lands, Public Opinion, Public Safety, Trap Injuries, Trapping Incidents Map, Trapping is Torture, Trapping on Public Lands, Trapping Regulations, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Management

In early November, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish formally rejoined the federal Mexican Wolf Recovery Program as a lead agency. The department signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish a framework for...

Wild wolf pup found dragging leghold trap in Gila

Nov 27, 2019 | Mexican wolf, Public Lands, Trap Injuries, Trapping Incidents Map, Trapping is Torture, Trapping on Public Lands, Trapping Regulations, Wildlife, Wildlife Management

Another wolf pup is undergoing treatment as private trapping continues to take a toll on endangered species and public lands RESERVE, NM – An endangered wild wolf pup in the Gila National Forest has more than the usual number of threats to his survival right now. A...

Queen Elizabeth II Will Go Fur Free

Nov 26, 2019 | Banned Fur Sales, Bear, Cruelty, Fur Free Fashion, Public Opinion, Uncategorized, Wildlife

She has sat next to Anna Wintour at London Fashion Week and awarded Stella McCartney the Order of the British Empire. Now Queen Elizabeth II is building on her fashion-forward reputation: The 93-year-old monarch will stop buying clothing made with real fur, the...

New Mexico panel opts to end recreational cougar trapping

Nov 25, 2019 | Cougar, NM Department of Game and Fish, NM State Game Commission, Roxy's Law

New Mexico regulators have adopted new rules that will prohibit trapping or snaring cougars for sport, marking a small victory for animal protection groups that have been fighting for a broader ban of the practice on public lands across the state. The state Game...

Game Commission ignores public, pushes inadequate trapping rule

Nov 22, 2019 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, NM State Game Commission, Outdoor Recreation Industry, Press Release, Public Lands, Public Opinion, Trapping Regulations, Waste, Wildlife, Wildlife Management

2400 public comments result in zero change to rule proposal ROSWELL, NM—At their November meeting, the New Mexico Game Commission made zero amendments to a set of proposed changes to the trapping rules. Department staff said that approximately 2400 public comments had...

How Not to Kill an Animal

Nov 18, 2019 | Coyote, Cruelty, Fur Trade, Illegal Trapping, Owl, Trap Injuries, Trapping is Torture, Waste, Wildlife

If you are going to end another life, at least end it mercifully. NASHVILLE — Last week, Walden’s Puddle, a nonprofit wildlife rescue organization in a rural area of Nashville, posted a set of photos of a barred owl caught in the jaws of a leg-hold trap. The first...

Cruel or essential? Map details trapping incidents across New Mexico

Nov 17, 2019 | Coyote, Dog, National Forest, Public Safety, Roxy's Law, Trap Victim Story, Trapping Incidents Map, Trapping on Public Lands, Trapping Regulations, Uncategorized, Wildlife

Map shows trapping incidents occurred in 22 counties in New Mexico Nogal resident Kathleen McDonald had climbed about 100 yards into the Lincoln National Forest when Jasper, her Golden retriever Jasper suddenly began yelping and crying. "I went running down and he was...

Coalition unveils interactive map of illegal trapping in New Mexico

Nov 5, 2019 | Illegal Trapping, Trapping Incidents Map, Trapping on Public Lands

Click above to play video ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)- Several New Mexico animal rights and conservation groups are behind an online map pinpointing illegal trapping incidents in the state. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the TrapFree New Mexico map is up and running....

Coalition puts out online map of illegal trapping in N.M.

Nov 5, 2019 | Companion Animal, Dog, Illegal Trapping, Legislation, Mexican wolf, Roxy's Law, Trapping Incidents Map, Trapping on Public Lands

A coalition of conservation and animal protection groups has created an online map of illegal trapping incidents in 22 New Mexico counties. The TrapFree New Mexico map, unveiled Monday, includes 23 documented incidents of trapping violations between 2015 and 2018, and...

TrapFree New Mexico releases map cataloguing trapping incidents in New Mexico

Nov 4, 2019 | Dog, Illegal Trapping, Mexican wolf, NM Department of Game and Fish, Outdoor Recreation Industry, Press Release, Public Lands, Public Opinion, Public Safety, Roxy's Law, Trap Victim Story, Trapping Incidents Map, Trapping on Public Lands, Trapping Regulations, Waste, Wildlife, Wildlife Management

For Immediate Release November 4, 2019 Contacts: Chris Smith, WildEarth Guardians, 505-395-6177, Mary Katherine Ray, Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter, 575-772-5655, Laura Bonar, Animal Protection of New Mexico &...

Interactive map tracks illegal trapping

Nov 3, 2019 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Bobcat, Coyote, Dog, Endangered Species, Fox, Illegal Trapping, Mexican wolf, NM Department of Game and Fish, Outdoor Recreation Industry, Public Lands, Public Safety, Roxy's Law, Trap Victim Story, Trapping on Public Lands, Wildlife, Wildlife Management

Just in time for trapping season, a coalition calling itself Trap Free New Mexico is launching a new online interactive map that tracks incidences of illegal trapping and locations where dogs, Mexican gray wolves and even people have been caught in traps. Chris Smith,...

Editorial: Roxy’s case reveals trapping free-for-all; NM needs to ban it

Oct 28, 2019 | Dog, Editorial, Illegal Trapping, National Forest, NM Department of Game and Fish, NM State Game Commission, Outdoor Recreation Industry, Public Lands, Public Opinion, Public Safety, Roxy's Law, Trap Victim Story, Trapping on Public Lands, Waste, Wildlife, Wildlife Management

In what world does a man charged with 34 counts of illegal trapping – brought to light by the gruesome strangling of a family pet in a snare as her owner tried in vain to free her – get off scot-free because the state bungled the case? New Mexico, that’s where....

ACTION ALERT: Demand trap-free public lands in New Mexico

Oct 24, 2019 | Ban Traps on Public Lands, Public Lands, Public Safety, Trapping on Public Lands, Trapping Regulations, Waste, Wildlife

The Game Commission is considering minor changes to the trapping rule: they are inadequate. Another trapping season is looming in New Mexico after last year’s saw at least two dogs killed, a handful of others injured, and untold thousands of native wildlife trapped...

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Know Your NM State Legislators!

Your New Mexico state Senator and Representative have the power to ban traps, snares and poisons on public lands. Find out who they are and let them know you oppose trapping on public lands. A simple phone call and email can make all the difference.

FIND YOUR LEGISLATORS →

How to release your dog from a leg-hold trap

Trap Victim Stories

New Mexico Residents Tell Their Stories of Encountering Traps on Public Lands

Audio Interviews with Trap Victims

Stop Cougar Trapping

People's Forum Panel Report on Public Lands Trapping

The New Mexico Legislature should ban trapping on public lands in New Mexico because traps harm people, animal companions, and whole populations of wildlife including rare species. Most New Mexican voters believe that trapping is cruel and unnecessary.

Read the Report »